counterattacks

variants or counter-attacks
plural of counterattack
as in attacks
an attack made to counter an enemy's attack suddenly the tide of battle turned, and the rebels, who had been falling back, made a furious counterattack

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of counterattacks Varas acknowledged after the Philadelphia loss that San Diego has struggled with turnovers and its positioning when trying to prevent counterattacks. — Tyler Carmona, Miami Herald, 19 Sep. 2026 Ukrainian counterattacks against Russian refineries have also sparked fuel shortages. — Victoria Hoffmann, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 Coaches around the league rave about Spagnuolo’s ability to enter a game with a plan and then build counterattacks from there. — Jeff Howe, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 For example, Way of the Sword rewards defensive play in the form of Issen, powerful counterattacks that are triggered by attacking before an enemy strikes. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 Capcom is emphasizing deliberate blade-on-blade combat, with precise parries, directional deflects, Issen counterattacks, Reflex Combos, Oni Armaments, Oni Strength, Oni Agility, soul absorption, environmental attacks and dynamic dismemberment. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Oil prices jumped Monday morning as the latest cycle of attacks and counterattacks renewed fears of further disruption to flows through the Strait of Hormuz. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 13 July 2026 Morocco had more talent than Paraguay, more menacing technique and tactics, and, presumably, could mount more dangerous counterattacks. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 July 2026 Under coach Sergej Barbarez, a former professional poker player, the gritty Bosnians rarely gamble, instead playing a disciplined and physical style that emphasizes compactness and swift counterattacks. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for counterattacks
Noun
  • Asif said the Houthis had intensified missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and expanded their control along Yemen's Red Sea coast.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In the case of the Ratepayer Protection Act, Republicans were searching for an answer to Democratic attacks on data centers and the higher energy prices consumers fear will come from their construction.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The campaign has put pressure on Russian logistics in Crimea, giving Ukrainian forces a degree of battlefield momentum that Kyiv has not enjoyed since its successful counteroffensives around Kherson and Kharkiv in late 2022.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But some officials believe Kyiv could have negotiated a peace agreement in mid-2022 if Washington had pushed its ally harder to engage in negotiations after the success of its Kherson and Kharkiv counteroffensives.
    — Dafna H. Rand, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Another suspect in the 2023 attacks, Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis, was jailed in Hungary for over a year following the assaults, resulting in a diplomatic dispute between Rome and Budapest over her treatment in detention.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Prosecutors used the Idaho assaults to prove a pattern of abuse, and put a life sentence on the table.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Fresh Russian strikes killed at least five people in Ukraine, including a boy in Kyiv, as attacks and counterstrikes continued across both countries.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The ministry plans to use attack drones in coordination with long-range missiles for more cost-effective counterstrikes.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Counterattacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/counterattacks. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!